STAFF:
Vicar Donald Helfer, Jr.
Vicar Donald Helfer, Jr. was born in Baltimore, Maryland and was baptized a “Child of God” at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Hampden. He has been a member of the Order of Saint Stephen Deacon of Maryland since 2010 and is now attending Seminary. He was set apart as a Lay Synodical Deacon on October 25, 2015, at Grace Lutheran Church in Westminster, Maryland by former Bishop Wolfgang Hertz Lane. Vicar Don faithfully served as a Lay Deacon for Jerusalem Lutheran Church from November 2015 to December 2019.
Vicar Don has volunteered with Community of St. Dymas, the ELCA’s prison ministry, and currently serves Resurrection Lutheran Parish coordinating youth group activities including Vacation Bible School, National Youth Gatherings, and various mission trips. He preaches on Sundays as part of the rotation for the five churches in Resurrection Lutheran Parish. You can also find him out in the community sowing seeds of hope and sharing in the wonder of God’s amazing grace!
Pastor Amanda McCaffery
Pastor Amanda McCaffery was born and raised in Hagerstown, Maryland. Her Undergraduate Degree is in Religion from Capital University (2005), and she holds a Master of Divinity from United Lutheran Seminary (2018). Pastor Amanda previously served a congregation in Roaring Spring, Pennsylvania for five and a half years before joining the ministerial staff of Resurrection Lutheran Parish (which includes serving Jerusalem Lutheran Church’s congregation). Prior to her attending Seminary, Pastor Amanda had a career working in Public Housing. This was part of her discernment to follow God’s calling to become a pastor.
Pastor Amanda has been married to her husband, Drew, since 2012. He is also a Lutheran Pastor serving a congregation in Bel Air. Together they have a rescue dog, Bryce, and are currently residing in Towson. You will often find them out trying to find the best snowball stand in the Baltimore area.
Besides hunting snowballs, Pastor Amanda enjoys reading, playing board games, drinking coffee, hiking and enjoying the outdoors, traveling and exploring new places, and crafting. She tries to embody God’s love and grace in how she interacts with the world and desires for all of God’s children to know they are beloved by God.
COUNCIL MEMBERS and OFFICERS:
Elmer Myers, President
Don Pennington, Vice-President
Lisa Alford, Secretary and O.S.S.D. Candidate (messages at Saturday Folk Services), Resurrection Lutheran Parish Council Member
Kelley M. McIver, Treasurer and Financial Secretary, Resurrection Lutheran Parish Vice-President
Patricia Kellam, At-Large Member
Donald Morris, At-Large Member
Edward McIver, Resurrection Lutheran Parish Mutual Ministry Committee